For the first time in my life, I find myself in substantial agreement with Robert Mickens, who now covers Vatican affairs for La Croix. With arguments about gun control proliferating in the wake of the Florida school shooting, an old friend of the Catholic Culture site called our attention to this short but perceptive essay, written nearly 10 years ago by our sometime contributor, Diogenes. Today is an unusually good day to pray for Pope Francis and for the Holy See.

In his most recent column there, Mickens examines the enormous and enduring influence of Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Not only because it’s the feast of the Chair of St.

The woman’s face is contorted with grief; her arm, around her...

Americans today—in sharp contrast with their behavior during the years of the Vietnam war—show great respect, bordering on reverence, for members of the armed forces.

Martin is clearly dissatisfied with the current state of Catholic teaching on the...

If you’re a Catholic priest who tries to be conscientious about preparing couples for marriage, Pope Francis just made your life much more difficult. You tell couples that they should think seriously before taking vows. On an otherwise serious day, let’s have a little fun, at the expense of Maine Public Radio, at whose web site you will find this headline: Diocese Changes Traditional Mass To Avoid Spreading Flu The story explains that, in order avoid spreading disease: The diocese announced...

Father Dwight Longenecker asks the right question: “What kind of Catholic Church are we if their pastors and bishops do not stand up publicly and rebuke these fourteen...

So now the Archdiocese of Braga, following the lead of bishops in Germany and in Malta, has said that Catholics who are divorced and remarried should receive the Eucharist after the "process of discernment" that is the essence of the "Kasper proposal." But wait. In reporting on the Catholic Church in China, it is often difficult to establish the real facts.

“Pope News” tweets: Why are some people so keen on being certain about the existence of Hell? Massimo Faggioli responds: This euphoria about hell (for others, of course): the theological version of winning is the only thing...

This week the Vatican press office has been fighting defensive PR battles on two fronts: over the reports of efforts to oust ‘underground’ bishops in China,...